Mindanao Daily News (April 4, 2013 Issue)

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P-Noy urged to use emergency powers VOL. 2, No. 269

Cagayan de Oro City

Thursday

April 4, 2013

P10.00

l To solve Mindanao power crisis

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/ -- The city council here has expressed support to mounting calls for President Benigno Aquino III to use his emergency powers to effectively address the worsening power crisis in Mindanao.

The council passed a resolution during its regular session on Tuesday “strongly requesting” the President

to specifically adopt emergency measures to expedite the resolution of the continuing power shortage in the critical Mindanao grid.

City Councilor Elizabeth Bagonoc, the resolution’s author, said it’s time for the national government to flex its muscles to finally resolve the problem, which has caused prolonged daily rotating brownouts in the area lasting a total of 14 hours.

The rotating brownouts, which started in early 2010 and have worsened since last year, was mainly blamed on the severe load cuts imposed by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) as a result of the declining generation capacity of the National Power Corporation’s (Napocor) hydroelectric plants. powers | page 10

NPA frees captive cop in ComVal DAVAO CITY (MindaNews) ---The New People’s Army (NPA) freed Tuesday Police Officer 3 Ruben Nojapa Jr. in Barangay Mainit, Nabunturan town in Compostela Valley (ComVal) after 15 days in captivity.

Acting Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte fetched Nojapa and brought him to Camp Catitipan here on

board a white helicopter at around 3 p.m.

The National Democratic Front (NDF) Southern Mindanao ordered Nojapa’s release last March 24.

He was abducted by NPA rebels last March 18 in a checkpoint in Barangay Mainit.

Before transported to

By Fred B. Dellava, Associate Editor, Mindanao Star

alleged strafing incident of municipal councilor Julfikli Hassan and his children.

Sulu police provincial director SSupt. Antonio Freyra confirms the incident and stating that as of this time they are waiting for the complete police report from Lugus Municipal Po-

npa | page 10

Newly-delivered durian fruits sorted outside Magsaysay Park in Davao City on Tuesday, April 2. Durian now sells for P30 to P40 a kilo depending on the variety. MindaNews photo by Ruby Thursday More

Socoteco eyes acquisition of 15-MW diesel modular genset GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews)-- Distribution utility South Cotabato I Electric Cooperative (Socoteco I) is planning to acquire a 15-megawatt (MW) diesel-fired modular generator set to offset the projected power shortage in the area when its threeyear supply contract with the National Power diesel | page 10

Sulu town exec accused of protecting armed men CAGAYAN de Oro City- Incumbent Lugus, Sulu Mayor Al Zhudurie L. Asmadun was accused by the residents of Tingkangan village of the said town of protecting armed men after the

lice Station.

He said initial investigation reveals that no one was hurt in the alleged politically motivated incident.

However, in a separate inter view to Councilor Hassan, official said that Tingkangan village sulu | page 10

NorthCotabato in talks with investors to put up hydro, solar power plants K I DA PAWA N C I T Y (MindaNews)– The provincial government of North Cotabato is exploring hydro and solar power as alternative energy sources to address the supply shortage in the province in the long term, Gov. Emmylou TaliñoMendoza said Tuesday.

Currently, the towns of Pikit, Pigcawayan, Alamada, Libungan, Midsayap and Aleosan or known as the P-PALMA Alliance are experiencing an average of 10-hour daily power curtailment.

The rest of the towns in North Cotabato and this city are also experiencing

daily brownouts lasting an average of seven hours.

Mendoza told MindaNews that the provincial government has been talking to some investors on the possibility of developing a hydropower plant powered by the Malitubog-Maridagao

investors | page 10

Duterte assures continued assistance

to kin, survivors of

Davao wharf blast

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews)-- Acting Mayor Rodrigo Duterte assured Tuesday continued educational assistance for survivors and families of the victims of the Sasa wharf bombing here in 2003 that killed 17 persons and wounded 56 others.

Marking the 10th anniversary of the bombing at the blast site, he said the assistance from the city government will continue

survivors | page 10

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News In Focus

thurSday| April 4, 2013

Editor: CRIS DIAZ Email: crisguardian@yahoo.com Editorial. : mindanaodailynews@gmail.com • Advertising : mindanaodaily.ads@gmail.com

Misor dad prefers June opening of Laguindingan airport

By GERRY LEE GORIT Photo-journalist

MISAMIS Oriental provincial board member Jimmy Caiña he is not in favor of the proposed April opening of the Laguindingan aiport, citing that it is better for the navigational

communication gear to be in place if and when the airport begins to be fully operational.

Caiña said the needed communication equipment is expected to be functional

by June.

“A June opening is better,” he said in response to

reports that the airport would open by the end of this month April.

He said the navigational gear would ensure clear and safe landing of aircraft even during evening hours as currently in place at the Lumbia airport.

Construction at the L aguindingan air p or t, where all f lights from and to Lumbia will be transferred, is about 98% complete.

“The double taxiways are finished,” Caiña said, adding that it’s only the communication equipment that is really lacking.

In another development, Caiña expressed elation over the support shown by voters in the first district of Misamis Oriental for his son Marc who is running for the provincial board in the May elections.

The younger Caiña re-

Re-electionist Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Vicente Y. Emano gestures as he delivers a message to his supporters at a public rally. Emano is leading surveys conducted for the city’s top post, including a survey conducted by an agency of the Xavier University recently. Photo by Gerry L. Gorit

cently undertook pocket rallies in all towns of the province’s first congressional district from Balingasag to Magsaysay.

He said the activity was supported by civic groups

as well as religious organizations.

During the pocket rallies, Marc Caiña presented his governance platform as an independent candidate while supporters came in

full force with tarpaulins of the candidate.

The younger Caiña is seen to follow in the footsteps of his father as the “infrastructure chairman” of the provincial board.

Weather Update Trough of a Low Pressure A rea (LPA) affecting Mindanao. Mindanao will experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rainshowers and thunderstorms.

Metro Manila and the rest of the country will have partly cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening. Light to moderate winds blowing from the east will prevail over Northern and Central Luzon and coming from the east to northeast over the rest of the country. The coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be slight to moderate.

source : pagasa

Davao in the news

Editor: ALLAN M. MEDIANTE e-mail: amediante@yahoo.com

3

Editorial : mindanaodailynews@gmail.com Advertising : mindanaodaily.ads@gmail.com THURSday | april 4, 2013

Davao City l Davao Oriental l Davao del Sur l Davao del Norte l Compostela Valley

Duterte assures Sasa Wharf blast victims support as long as he’s mayor

By CHERYLL D. FIEL of DavaoToday.com

DAVAO City––On the 10th year commemoration of the Sasa Wharf bombing, acting Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte assured the city’s financial support to the victims’ families, as long as he remains head of

the city.

Duterte joined families in a commemoration of the bombing which killed 17, including children, and injured 56 others ten years ago.

“Wala ko namulitika.

Mintras akoy mayor sa Davao, ok mo. Karun, maayo

na lang gani kay ang ginoo gihimong mayor akong anak, ok na pud mo. Karung moabot nga eleksyon, di nato masulti. Wala koy kontra pero kaning tanan, Inshallah. (I’m not politicking here. As long as I’m mayor here of Davao, you’re okay. It is good that God

made my daughter mayor, so you are also okay. Now that elections are near, we cannot say. I may not have opponents, but all of these, I say, Inshallah, meaning God-willing),” he addressed the families.

The city is supporting some 222 families of the

bombing victims spending a total of 3.981 million pesos in educational assistance to the children of the victims. The mayor said 18 of them have finished college.“Nalipay kog dako bisan tuod wala na moy amahan ug inahan, nakagraduate mo (I’m glad

that even if you no longer have fathers or mothers, you have graduated),” he told them.

Duterte reminded the families that this is not his personal money they are receiving but the city’s. But he assures he will do all in his capacity to support them, “Kay total naa pa ko tulo ka tuig ko. Makasustini pa ko, (I still have three more years, so I can sustain this.)”

Duterte turned somber upon recalling the incident saying, “Kung naay lider nga daghang gasgas sa kasingkasing, ako, (If there is any leader here with the most scars, that would be me),” pointing out that in his 19 years of being the mayor, he saw through three bombings that rocked the City.

A bomb struck San Pedro Cathedral on December 27, 1993, killing seven people and injuring 151 others, 32 of them seriously. The bombing of the old Davao airport in Sasa which took place a month prior to Sasa wharf bombing on March 4, 2003 killed 20 and injured 146 others.

Duterte allayed fears mayor | page 10

Caraga Region

4

AGUSAN DEL NORTE l AGUSAN DEL SUR l SURIGAO DEL SUR l SURIGAO DEL NORTE

THURSDAY |APRIL 4, 2013 Editor: JOE DEL PUERTO FELICILDA Asst editor: ARJAY S. FELICILDA • Email: msbmdn@yahoo.com.ph jayfels30@yahoo.com.ph Editorial : mindanaodailynews@gmail.com

BCWD celebrates 39th anniversary, bares ‘ accomplishments’

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY - The Butuan City Water District (BCWD) has updated the local media on its operations and accomplishments for the year 2012.

This, during a press conference highlighting its 39th anniversary celebration, Monday, coinciding with the 12th Water Consciousness Week.

BCWD General Manager Anselmo Sangtian bared that while performing daily operations, the BCWD has been active with its corporate social responsibility (CSR) that included the conduct of competitions and school tours for school children.

Outreach programs have also been done, particularly during the 38th anniversary.

“We also constructed the multi-purpose hall of the

Anticala Watershed Farmers Association, with comfort rooms and a water system,’ said Engr. Sangtian.

A forest nursery will soon be put up in the vicinity of the building, he added.

“As our office turns 39 years of providing piped water supply to the Butuanons, we are also into projects toward raising awareness and increasing cooperation amid the challenges over the increasing demand for water access, allocation and services,” he stated.

Such challenges include the expansion projects toward Ubod-Ubod and Basay

Resettlement, Lemon and Malalag; Upgrading of transmission lines in Sunrise, Ampayon, Tiniwisan and Mahay and Amakan Resettlement; Deep-well drilling in Taguibo; extension of the Pinamanculan Reservoir; construction of ground reservoir in Libertad; Calibration of flow meters; Procurement of leak detector; rehabilitation and re-alignment of water meter stand; and working for a partnership with private sector for treatment services, under the Public-PrivatePartnership/Joint venture.

Robbers hit Caraga Region

By PO3 Zena Menioria Panaligan

CAMP R A FA E L RODRIGUEZ, Butuan City – A series of robbery incidents has been reported in various parts of Caraga Region, this week.

Afternoon of April 1, three workers of the Green Valley Bank, identified as Lorna G. Laquindanum, sales agent, 52 years old, married; Roldan L. Pelegria, helper, 24 years old, single, both of P-6, Brgy Bading, this city; and Jonathan H. Anobong, driver, 39 years old, single of P-6, Brgy Tandang Sora were robbed by two unidentified persons at Purok 13, Km 3, Barangay Baan.

Police investigators said the victims were about to drive their vehicle when

the perpetrators, armed with undetermined types of firearms, held them up carting away some P90,000.00 in cash, three cellphones, a wallet containing P2,000.00, black sling bag containing a watch, one personal check and important documents.

The robbers fled toward the city proper aboard a motorcycle. A team from the Theft and Robbery Unit, led

by Police Inspector Agustin M. Navarro, with personnel from the Butuan City Public Safety Company, pursued the culprits.

Recovered from the crime scene was one fired cartridge of undetermined caliber of firearm.

Meanwhile, the Butuan

FM Marketing and General Merchandise at Purok A-2, Brgy Taglatawan, Bayugan City was robbed by two unidentified persons in masks and bull caps.

Initial investigation conducted by the Bayugan City Police Station revealed that the robbers, armed with short firearms of unknown types, succeeded in carting away P4,500.00 in cash, three units of cellular phones worth P4,700, a wallet containing P1,500.00 and identification cards.

The perpetrators fled toward an unknown direction after the incident aboard a motorcycle.

Both incidents are still being investigated by the police. (ZMP/MMGasf )

Engr. Sangtian further said that BCWD will continue the Water Maintenance Program to improve efficiency of water meters.

The program will include such services as withdrawal and replacement of water meters installed for the past

five years or more to ensure accurate reading of water consumption.

“There were already 35,726 active metered connections, including 1,619 new connections coming from 56 barangays,’ he disclosed.

He also assured that BCWD will pursue the development and protection of the Taguibo Watershed by intensifying the agroforestry project and by being vigilant against illegal activities within the area (JPG/PIA-Caraga/asf)

NYR 2013 Info-Caravan: Youths’ Participation

“I

am proud that my father is a farmer, because he planted rice not just for my family but also for other people.”

A statement said by a daughter of a rice farmer, Riza Mae Bete, Grade III pupil from Esperanza Central SPED School.

The D ep ar t ment of Agriculture – Regional Field Unit XIII started the NYR 2013 Info-Caravan in partnership with the Provincial Agriculture Office of Agusan del Sur. Info-Caravan is a channel that stimulates public awareness and understanding. It is an intensified promotional campaign that helps the department in spreading the information and advocacy of NYR 2013.

The Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Information Division (RAFID) with the Rice Program led the first quarter regionwide information caravan delivering the message for NYR 2013.

RAFID-OIC Chief, Ms. Rebecca R. Atega strategically initiated the idea in identifying schools to give the firsthand information on the NYR goals.

Based on her observation, schools are an apt avenue to share the three-fold goal of achieving rice-selfsufficiency in the country, promoting better health among rice consumers and to improve the productivity and income of rice farmers.

The collaboration of Provincial Agriculturist Dr. Joriz Elevazo, thru Ms. Jessica Unson, Provincial Rice Coordinator of Agusan del Sur together with Municipal Agriculturist of

A PROUD FARMER’S DAUGHTER. Ms. Jessica Unson, Provincial Rice Coordinator of Agusan del Sur take the chance to ask Riza Mae Bete, Grade III pupil from Esperanza Central SPED School if she is proud to be a daughter of a rice farmer. “Proud ko nga ang akong Papa mag-uuma, tungod kay dili lang para sa amo ang iyang gi-tanom nga humay, pati napud sa uban tao,” she said. (Photo by. Randy Narada/DA-RAFID XIII)

Esperanza Zaldy Manug and Municipal Agriculturist of Bunawan Rhodora Garcines identified public schools to be the receiver of the message.

Estimated 5OO elementary pupils from Esperanza Central SPED School, highschool students from Agusan del Sur Science High School, and college students from ASSCAT Bunawan were informed to take the necessary actions on attaining such goals.

The department encouraged the involvement of every student to be a responsible rice consumer, managing food staples consumption and lobbying the role of the youth

to say THANK YOU, or DAGHANG SALAMAT for every rice farmer they will meet. It is part of the learning process that a simple thanksgiving for the main actors-farmers will boost their credibility and can help them to be more inspired to farm.

The Department of Agriculture – Caraga has a positive outlook that the involvement and interest of the youth in agriculture sector will be restored through effective communication. The department is thinking of more ways to make people understand and use information to improve their lives. (Rhea Abao/DA-RAFID XIII)

THURSDAY | APRIL 4, 2013 Editor: JOE DEL PUERTO FELICILDA Asst editor: ARJAY S. FELICILDA • Email: msbmdn@yahoo.com.ph jayfels30@yahoo.com.ph Editorial : mindanaodailynews@gmail.com Advertising : mindanaodaily.ads@gmail.com

Soccsksargen

5

SO. COTABATO l N. COTABATO l SULTAN KUDARATl SARANGGANI l GEN. SANTOS CITY

Midsayap launches Summer Peace Kids Camp COTABATO PROVINCE - With its humble desire to train the grade 5 pupils into being potential leaders, the municipality of Midsayap has launched the 3rd Gov. Lala Summer Peace Kids Camp at the Midsayap Pilot Elementary School, March 15, this year.

The three-day activity was participated in by 2,289 pupils of various tribes from all school districts, hearing lectures on leadership, environment, sports, climate change, basic survival, social, cultural and religious acts, and emergency preparedness skills.

At the opening program, Governor Emmylou

“Lala” J. Taliño-Mendoza encouraged the participants to apply what they have learned from school to become good leaders in the future, while stating that she expects their active participation, based on the set activities.

“I f e e l h appy t h at there are more pupils in attendance this year. This means more challenge for

us to improve and continue our program, as we officially conduct this annually,” she said.

As a form of anti-war campaign, the participants are taught to mingle and communicate not only with

their fellow tribes, but also with other people around.

In order to bridge the gap, the participants were

grouped together to share their ideas, traditions, and talents.

Governor Mendoza, together with Board Member Celestino Rapacon and the local officials of Midsayap, facilitators, guests, and participants altogether sang the official hymn for the Summer Kids Peace Camp.

The conduct of the 3rd Gov. Lala Summer Peace Kids Camp was in collaboration with the Department of Education (DepEd), the Local Government Unit of Midsayap, Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts of the Philippines (Cotabato Chapter), with the Provincial Treasurer’s Office, as in-charge of the activity (sgjh/pgo/asf)

68 additional midwives deployed DA to Lanao Sur villages opens search for LGUs

By Danilo E. Doguiles

By Danilo E. Doguiles

KO R O NA DA L C I T Y - After the recently concluded 2nd Agri-Pinoy Rice Achievers Awards, the Department of Agriculture (DA 12) is opening another country-wide search, this time recognizing LGUs and individuals with outstanding performance in organic farming.

DA 1 2 , an n ou n c e d today that the Department has allotted at least Php 26 million as prizes in the form of project grants and cash incentives for the winners of the Organic Agriculture-Local Government Unit Awards.

Information on the nationwide search indicates that top three performing provinces -- one each in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao -- will receive Php 3 million worth of project grants and a plaque.

Top performing city or municipality in each region will also take home Php 1 million worth of project for their respective identified farmer group beneficiaries.

Fo r t h e i n d i v i d u a l category, P30,000 worth of cash prize and plaque await each of the three provincial focal persons.

The same prize awaits the best city or municipal organic agriculture focal person and top performing agric ultural extension worker in each region.

In an earlier interview, Enriqueto Natividad, DA 12’s Regional Technical Direc tor for Res e arch

and Regulations and organic agriculture focal person, said the award is intended to encourage LGUs to convert 5 percent of their agricultural lands to organic farming.

It also aims to harness local level participation in ensuring effective implementation of National Organic Agriculture Program (NOAP).

The search is being spearheaded by the the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Product St andards (BAFPS) as the Administrative and Technical Secretariat of t h e Nat i on a l O rg an i c Agriculture Program ( N OA P ) p u r s u a n t t o Republic Act 10068 other wise known as the Philippine Organic Agriculture Act of 2010 The OA LGU Awards is a way to commend the involvement and to fur ther encourage the local government unit (LGUs) as well as the agr ic ultural extension workers (AEWs) in the promotion and spread of the organic agriculture in the country, he added.

For more information and guidelines, interested parties may contact the of f i c e of t he O rg an i c Agriculture Program at DA 12 through telephone numbers (083) 520-0622 or visit the DA 12 website, w w w. r f u 1 2 . d a . g ov. p h .

(DEDoguiles-PIA 12 with LMSalvo/DA 12/asf )

KORONADAL CITY Sixty-eight additional midwives are scheduled for deployment to remote villages in Lanao del Sur this month, according to the Department of Health - Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DOHARMM).

ARMM Health Secretary Dr. Kadil Sinolinding Jr., said the placement of midwives in far-f lung barangays is part of DOHARMM’s Midwives in Every Community in ARMM (MECA) project.

MECA project, Sinolinding explained, is designed to help address maternal and infant care concerns in some of the depressed and far-flung areas in ARMM. It is als o aimed at

providing wider access to health care intended to reduce infant and maternal mortality rates in the ARMM. Apart from attending to the health needs of pregnant mothers and newborn babies, these midwives are also trained to cater to basic health concerns in the communities where they are assigned, he added.

They will also educate women on reproductive health as well as keep track of and evaluate all other health concerns in their area of responsibility .

To date, DOH-ARMM has hired and deployed more than 300 midwives to communities in the five component province and two cities of the region.

Before the impending

deployment, DOH-ARMM has hired on renewable contract 72 registered midwives who were assigned to villages in Maguindanao province.

“We will continue to hire registered midwives to supply the growing necessities on prenatal care and reproductive health in the succeeding years,” Sinolinding said.

Sinolinding encouraged the midwives to be more focused on their job because they will be acting like doctors in their assigned areas.

He also emphasized the importance of time management and dedication to their work as key factors to becoming excellent midwives.

For ever y month of

service, each midwife will receive P10,000 to be drawn from the local agency’s funds. Each contract lasts for six months, renewable only after a performance evaluation.

"I know it needs sacrifice for midwives to be deployed in far flung communities where the people have been hungry for basic health services," Sinolinding said.

Sinolinding added that they are now considering deployment of doctors to every municipality and a rural health to every barangay in the region.

ARMM includes the provinces of Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi as well as the cities of Marawi and Lamitan. (DEDoguiles-PIA 12/asf )

ARAKAN, NORTH C O TA B AT O – T h e distribution of cattles led the livelihood programs in the 2nd District of North Cotabato, March 12, this year in the municipality of Arakan.

With a total of 29 cattle stocks and carabaos distributed to lucky Indigenous People (IPs) of President Roxas, Antipas, and Arakan, the beneficiaries signed the memorandum of agreement with the provincial government stipulating that the farmer beneficiaries are mandated to give either the mother or the offspring, preferably female, to their respective barangays, to be used for another animal dispersal.

The remaining cattle stocks will be automatically owned by the beneficiaries.

From the 29 cattle

distributed, Arakan received 21 heads, President Roxas has 3 heads, and Antipas with 5 heads.

In her inspirational message during the dispersal ceremony, Governor Emmylou “Lala” J. Taliño-Mendoza reminded the IPs that the project’s main purpose is to promote animal husbandry and to preserve the traditional knowledge of conserving local

cattle breed.

She added that through this aim, they are committing themselves in taking care of what they received from the government, thus will make a sustainable option for their livelihood.

Under this program, the Provincial Government of Cotabato finances the cost of acquiring the livestock through its 2012 20%

Economic Development Fund.

The farmers will then raise them until they give birth. The project is facilitated by some personnel from the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian, Cotabato Province.

Mayor Rene V. Rubino, B o a rd Me m b e r No e l Baynosa, and Board Member Cris Cadungon are also in attendance during the program. (sgjh/pgo/asf)

Livestock leads livelihood in 2nd District of N.Cot.

Opinion

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thurSday | APRIl 4, 2013

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Member: Philippine Press Institute

THINK a minute.

A Bank in New York City had some flowers sent to another bank that had moved to a new building.

But there was a mix-up at the flower shop, and the card that was sent read: “With our deepest sympathy.”

The florist was so embarrassed and apologized for her mix-up. But she felt even worse when she realized that the card to the bank was sent instead to a funeral.

This card read: “Congratulations on your new location!” You can imagine the surprise of the dead person’s family when they read that card! All joking aside.

You know that’s actually an accurate way to describe what happens when we die.

While we’re alive on this

New location

Think A Minute Jhan Tiafau Hurst earth, our body is just our temporary house. Doctors say that after we reach the age of about 20 years old, our body begins to deteriorate and slowly die.

Our hair turning gray and thin, wrinkles in our sk in, and many ot her changes in our body are all signs that our aging house is falling down. No one escapes this fact of life!

All joking aside. You know that’s actually an accurate way to describe what happens when we die.

While we’re alive on this earth, our body is just our temporary house.

Doctors say that after we reach the age of about 20 years old, our body begins to deteriorate and slowly die.

Our hair turning gray and thin, wrinkles in our sk in, and many ot her changes in our body are all signs that our aging house is falling down. No one escapes this fact of life!

However, we have a soul that never dies, so when our

body dies we just change locations. And our next location is not just for 70 years, it’s our permanent home—forever.

Jesus Christ said that there are only 2 locations that we can live in after we die: heaven or hell. Fortunately, the choice is ours to make now while we’re still in this temporary location.

If we choose heaven, then all we need to do is ask Jesus for His gift of forgiveness for living our own way. Then, ask Him to take charge of our new life so we can start living His right way every day for the rest of our life in this location, as well as forever with Him in our permanent location. So if your life ended today, do you know where you would relocate?

Just Think a Minute.

Rufus bucks opening of Laguindingan airport REP. Rufus Rodriguez, 2nd District of Cagayan de Oro City, vehemently opposed the opening of the Laguindingan airport in Misamis Oriental.

Rodriguez lodged his opposition through a resolution that he passed in Congress before the august body went into recess last February.

Rodriguez wants the opening of the new airport until next year when all its navigational instruments for a Cris Diaz safe air travel are in place. Businessmen in North Mindanao and the tourism industry also opposed the premature opening of the Laguindingan airport.

However, the Civil Aviation Administration of the Philippines (CAAP) wants Laguindingan airport to open on April 30, 2013. Certainly, the insistence of CAAP to open the airport without listening to the clamor of various stakeholders poses doubts than appreciation. It seems an unseen hand is trying to coerce CAAP to do things even against the will of the majority. CAAP should rethink its position otherwise taking the Laguindingan issue haphazardly would definitely tarnish its respected image as an administrator of the air transportation industry in the country.

The Laguindingan airport is a very interesting issue. However, for individuals with ordinary minds, the Laguindingan issue is no big deal. On the other hand, those who think of the welfare of the people think otherwise. Obviously, Rodriguez and other stakeholders were concerned about the safety of the public. Opening the

Laguindingan airport without considering the installation of vital navigational instruments means putting the lives and limbs of people at stake. It is incredible to think of government officials and CAAP to be so dumb.

As earlier said, CAAP could be a victim of unseen hands of people whose personal interests supersede against the welfare of the public. To put it simply, politics are showing its dirty hands in the Laguindingan.

Perhaps, to please a frustrated politician who wants the credit of the Laguindingan airport? Bull!

Well, Gov. Oscar Moreno of Misamis Oriental denied pressuring CAAP to open the Laguindingan airport in order to gain credit for it. Of course, Moreno and anyone else in his stead would do the denial at all costs, too. Yet, Moreno’s silence and failure to oppose the apparent danger posed by the premature opening of the Laguindingan airport was enough to disprove his intentions.

For Moreno, getting credit for the opening of the Laguindingan airport under his watch is a potent campaign material as the midterm elections near. Of course, Moreno did not pressure CAAP. He has no personality to do so. Yet, with his manifest closeness to Sec. Mar Roxas, who once served as transportation Secretary, Moreno could pull strings at the backstage.

The people of Northern Mindanao were just thankful to have Rodriguez who openly opposes the premature opening of the Laguindingan airport. Rodriguez said that CAAP has no moral ground to deny the opposition pushed by stakeholders in the region. “We do not want to think that we are a pushover,” Rodriguez said.

React: crisguardian@yahoo.com

Smuggling liberalized in RP

LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “… Because you did not serve the Lord your God joyfully and gladly in the time of prosperity, therefore in hunger and thirst, in nakedness and dire poverty, you will serve the enemies the Lord sends against you.

He will put an iron yoke on your neck until he has destroyed you…” (Deuteronomy 28:47-48, the Holy Bible).

-oooIS THAT ALL THAT MALACANANG CAN DO FOR JONAS? Pardon my asking but, really, is that all that Malacanang can do in the case of Jonas Burgos, in the face of mounting evidence that soldiers from the Philippine Army were the ones who kidnapped him in 2007 and who, from all indications, continue to

Kakampi mo ang batas Atty. Batas Mauricio detain him up to now, or, as a new petition filed with the Supreme Court is saying, has already “disposed of him in a manner only (the kidnappers) can explain”?

I mean, can Malacanang be satisfied in merely saying that, it is up to the courts to find out if the disappearance of Jonas was really the handiwork of the military?

I know those involved must be given “due process”, or an opportunity to defend themselves.

But cannot Malacanang,

with the awesome powers of the presidency, do its own investigation into the case and then do something that will assure each and every Filipino citizen that no one can just kidnap anyone without paying for the dastardly deed, at least administratively, since the President is technically the commander-in-chief of the military? More especially in the case of President Aquino who was voted into office on the crest of a popular belief that he will not tolerate

wrongdoings by military men?

-oooPRAY FOR THE SMUGGLERS: So, if the big oil companies in the Philippines and even top officials of government know that rampant smuggling of gasoline and gas products have been going on here, depriving the country of at least P30 billion in unpaid taxes yearly, why is something not being done about it?

Surely, this kind of a bigtime, billion-peso, cheating could not flourish unless the affected oil companies themselves, and the government officials involved in selling gasoline, have something in it, too, in one way or another? Indeed, this needs investigating, but then, I am sure smuggling | page 11

thurSday | APRIL 4, 2013

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The Bxu political pot THERE really was nothing to be surprised about when I read in this newspaper the results of the survey conducted by the Fr. Saturnino Urios University in Butuan City showing incumbent Cong. Jose “Joboy” Aquino leading incumbent Mayor Ferdinand Amante in the city’s mayoralty race.

My involvement in Butuan City’s politics for a few months last year as part of the campaign team of former National Food Authority Administrator Angelito “Lito” Banayo’s aborted congressional bid, I am aware of the temperament of that city’s political pot. Since we started our political work there, we were already aware of Aquino’s advantage over Amante.

Even if Amante is just on his first term, silently the people, at least the majority of the total populace, were already crying out for change in the city’s leadership. In fact, the people’s clamor for change in the city’s leadership was what prompted Aquino to forego a third term bid for his congressional seat where he was a sure winner.

Butuan city residents over w helming ly voted Amante to his current post in 2010 on account of his campaign promise of bringing about change and reforms. Such promise catapulted him to the mayoralty post by beating the wife of the late well-loved

A deeper view Jesse E.L. Bacon II former mayor.

Sadly, Amante miserably failed to live up to his vow of bringing about change and reforms at City Hall. Things even got worse during his watch. The people were disenchanted because the hands of his cousin who is well-ensconced at the provincial capitol as Agusan del Norte’s governor was seen as the one running the city through the so-called “Tres Marias.”

Despite his being a medical practitioner, Amante failed to diagnose the illnesses plaguing the city.

Such failure incapacitated him from coming up with the right cure for the various illnesses that kept the city at sick bay. His being a mere proxy mayor of his more powerful cousin did him in. His hands were tied because he never asserted his being the duly elected mayor.

In his entire term, he just kowtowed to the wishes, importuning of his cousin.

Amante, the mayor, never became a man of his own as Butuan’s chief executive.

7

Opinion

It was because of this that he never initiated any move to address the grinding poverty of the mass of the Butuanons.

Amante never internalized the core concept of his being the city’s leader which is to bring the people out of their afflictions, sufferings and miseries to their own Promised Land, a land that is flowing with milk and honey, to borrow the biblical description of the land where God wanted Moses to bring the Israelites to from Egypt.

In reality, however, this is the problem with the country’s political leaders.

It has never been internalized by our political leaders who have been given the people’s mandate that their primordial task is to liberate, free the people from their afflictions, sufferings and miseries. This has never been the concept why our political leaders are there in their lofty elective positions.

This failure to understand what is their primordial task is the reason why our political leaders like

Amante of Butuan could not come up with a program of government that is economically uplifting to the economically challenged.

It is for this reason that all Amante could do is ask for additional intelligence fund, purchase close circuit television cameras, sell the old and dilapidated heavy equipment of the city as scrap, spend millions of pesos for the concreting of their old garden plaza, to cite just a few of his administration’s follies.

Before starting our political work for Banayo, we commissioned a nononsense survey sometime in July last year to ascertain the people’s sentiments and know their concerns, longings and aspirations. Banayo himself conducted a series of no-nonsense dialogues with several sectors of the city’s populace.

Our findings showed that the main concern of the Butuanons were job and livelihood opportunities to extricate them from poverty.

The abject poverty of the Butuanons can best be seen in their purchasing power which is very low that the only mall there is not the priority for replenishment of their stocks from their supply warehouse in Cagayan de Oro City because the turn over of goods in Butuan such as shoe polish is very slow.

But instead of addressing the miserable POT | page 11

The roots of democracy

By DON PAGUSARA of DavaoToday.com

TREMENDOUS investments in monetary and human resources have been poured into this political exercise called elections. And if we count the number of human lives wasted in the many years that elections have been conducted since the birth of the Philippine Republic, we can only clack our tongues and shake our heads.

But at bottom of these trivial gestures is a quality of pessimism that put elections in grievous doubt if it can ever yet emancipate the people from the miserable morass they are in.

This loss of faith in the electoral system stems from people’s perception of its being a stupendous mockery of democratic principles. Our electoral processes are basically tailored after the interests of the traditional political parties claiming to be representatives of the majority of the people. In fact they represent only a very small percentage of the entire population.

These political parties — chiefly, the Liberal Party and Nacionalista Party — are decidedly tied up to the interests of the economic elite in Philippine society.

And who are the elite? They are the landlords and capitalists, including the bureaucrats who amass wealth while in office.

The entire government apparatus and bureaucracy are made to cater to the wants and wishes of this societal elite. Administrative programs and legislative measures are designed for their exclusive advantage. Political dynasticism and warlordism serve as lance and shield of their perpetual rule.

In any electoral contest, the candidates belonging to either of these two parties, come out the victors. Why? Simply because they have the luxury of resources — millions of money to spend for all imaginable devious schemes and means to climb to power.

What about the true representatives of the basic toiling masses? The workers and the farmers? Can they have a few thousands for campaign expenditures? Never! Unless some landlords or capitalists sponsor them and spend for their candidacy! In which case, they now become protégées eternally beholden to such benefactors. And with that, they have become representatives, not of the workers or farmers, but of the landlords or the capitalists.

And this is the very rationale for the qualification roots | page 11

8

Developments

thursday | april 4, 2013

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GlobeTel garners most nominations in 16th Telecom Asia Awards

Globe President and CEO Ernest Cu is finalist in the Telco CEO of the Year category in the 16th Telecom Asia Awards.

Globe Telecom has been recognized as one of the top finalists in the prestigious Telecom Asia Awards, garnering the most number of nominations among Philippine telco contenders with four (4) finalist citations.

Globe President and CEO Ernest Cu leads the nominations as one of the top contenders in the Telecom CEO of the Year category, joining CEOs from Telstra of Australia, Celcom Axiata and YTL of Malaysia, BT Global Services of the United Kingdom, and Softbank of Japan in the roster of finalists.

Cu has been the driving force behind the success of Globe, sustaining the company’s momentum with record-high revenue growth and increased number of subscribers in 2012. For his sterling performance as CEO last year, Cu was named CEO of the Year (Service Provider) by global business research and consulting firm Frost & Sullivan in its 2012 Asia Pacific ICT Awards. Globe Telecom on the other hand was named

CNET Asia Readers Choice Awards’ Best Telco in the Philippines, as well as Frost & Sullivan’s Philippines Telecom Service Provider and Broadband Service Provider of the year.

Globe Broadband was also recognized as finalist in the Best Broadband Carrier Category. Through its Tattoo brand, Globe Broadband has changed the landscape of the Philippine broadband industry with its innovative promos and offers that significantly contributed to the growth of Globe through the years. As a testament to Tattoo’s success, the brand received a back-to-back recognition from Frost & Sullivan as the Best Broadband Service Provider of the Year in the Philippines in 2011 and 2012.

In addition, Globe is also nominated in the Most Innovative Telecom Project Category for its pioneering postpaid plan My Super Plan. Considered to be a game-changing innovation in the Philippine telecommunications, My Super Plan is a set of personalized, customized, and fully-customizable postpaid plans where subscribers have the flexibility to design their own plans by choosing the best mix of voice, SMS, and browsing services that they need, change them as often as monthly, and pay a monthly fee that best fits their budgets. For the past two years, Globe has attributed the success, growth, and undisputed leadership of its postpaid business to

My Super Plan.

Lastly, Globe, through its flagship corporate social responsibility (CSR) program Globe Bridging Communities (BridgeCom) is also shortlisted in the Best Community Telecom Project Category. Globe BridgeCom, the company’s multi-awarded CSR program has been providing significant contribution in addressing issues involving the marginalized sectors of the country through its five advocacies—good governance, excellence in social services delivery, entrepreneurship, environment and sustainability, and active citizenship through volunteerism. Through Globe BridgeCom, Globe is the first Philippine telco firm to win in the Social Empowerment Category of the Asia Responsible Entrepreneurship Awards (AREA) 2012 Southeast Asia, attesting to the company’s commitment to transform communities through innovative ICT solutions.

Now on its 16th year, the Telecom Asia Awards is the region’s longest-running and most prestigious telecom industry awards, recognizing the most innovative and outstanding performance

by Asian service providers and industry executives.

The Telecom Asia Awards is organized by Telecom Asia, Asia’s largest regional telecom publishing group.

Winners will be announced at a ceremony on April 17, 2013 at the Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur.

You know it’s summer when picnickers troop to the swimming pools at the Timoga cool springs in Iligan City even during weekdays and workdays like Tuesday, April 2.

M inda N ews photo by B obby Timonera

River Wild: Whitewater Rafting in Cagayan de Oro is one of the Mindanao’s favorite destination this summer.

ARMM voters will spend longest time in polling precincts

By Carolyn O. Arguillas

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews– Of the country’s 52 million voters, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao’s 1.3 million voters will spend the longest time in the polling precincts in May because they will not only elect national and local officials but regional as well.

While voters in other towns nationwide need to shade only 30 or 31 ovals on the left side of the candidates’ names for 12 senators, one party-list representative, one Congressional representative, one governor, one vice governor, four or five provincial board members, one mayor, one vice mayor and eight municipal board members, ARMM voters have to shade five more for the regional governor, regional vice governor and three members of the Regional Legislative Assembly (RLA) per district.

Lawyer Ray Sumalipao, regional director of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in the ARMM, told MindaNews the estimated shading time for each ballot in the ARMM is five minutes.

Voters in Basilan and Tawitawi need to shade 35 ovals because Basilan has only eight provincial board members and voters elect four per district.

But a voter in Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao and Sulu, need to shade 36 ovals because they have a ten-member board and voters elect five per district.

ARMM is the only region in the country where voters will experience synchronized elections at the national, local and regional level.

ARMM voters will elect two governors and two vice governors — provincial and regional – and five sets of legislators: Senator, House Representative, Regional Assemblyman, Provincial Board Member and Municipal Councilor.

At stake in the ARMM election which was supposed to have been held on August 8 last year, are 26 posts – governor, vice governor and 24 assemblyman at three per congressional district.

The Citizens Coalition for ARMM Electoral Reforms, Inc. (Citizens CARE), a Comelecaccredited election watchdog, is fielding 7,000 volunteers to assist in voter’s information and values education in the ARMM provinces of Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-tawi, Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur and the

cities of Marawi and Lamitan.

Citizens CARE Executive Director Salic Ibrahim told MindaNews that part of the voters’ education would be to show them a template of the ballots that are available for downloading at the Comelec website.

Candidates A total of 94 candidates are running for the ARMM’s 26 posts.

Six candidates, including OIC ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman and former ARMM Governor Nur Misuari are running for ARMM Governor, eight are running for Vice Governor and 80 are running for the 24 regional assembly seats.

Aside from Hataman, who is the Liberal Party’s candidate, and Misuari (Independent), also running for Governor are former Sultan Kudarat Governor and Representative Pax Mangudadatu (Ind.) former Agrarian Reform regional director Yusoph Mama (Ind.), Elsie New Orejudos (Ind.) and Aisha Fatima Buena Prudencio (Democratic Party of the Philippines).

Hataman, former three-term Anak Mindanaw party-list Representative, took over the ARMM as OIC Governor on December 22, 2011.

Misuari is the longest serving ARMM Governor in the 23-year old ARMM. Misuari, founding chair of the Moro National Liberation Front who signed the Final Peace Agreement with the Philippine government on September 2, 1996 and was elected a full week later, served as Governor from September 30, 1996 until his arrest off Sabah on November 24, 2001.

Mangudadatu is uncle of reelectionist Maguindanao Governor Esmael Mangudadatu (LP).

Running for vice governor are former ARMM Local Governments Secretary Haroun Alrashid Alonto Lucman (LP), Pundatoon Sultan Bagol (Ompia Party), Sultan Bob Datimbang (Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino), Bashier Manalao (PDP-Laban), and Independent candidates Mesug Manaloco, Abdulaziz Mangandaki, Marconi Curso Paiso, and Pundato Sharief.

There are 80 candidates running for 24 RLA seats at three per congressional district: 11 in Basilan’s lone district; nine in Tawi-tawi;

17 in Lanao del Sur – nine in District 1, eight in District 2; 31 in Maguindanao – 12 in District 1, 19 in District 2; and 13 in Sulu – four in the first district and eight in the second district.

Purged Last year, a general reregistration was held in the ARMM, a region that has repeatedly been described as the nation’s “cheating capital” every election.

Comelec records show that in the May 2010 Presidential polls, ARMM had 1,882,338 voters. This year’s record shows ARMM has 1,300,479 registered voters.

In December, the Comelec removed 280,077 underage and multiple registrants. A report of the Philippine Star on December 3, 2012 quoted ARMM Comelec director Sumalipao as saying that the Election Registration Board hearings on November 26 to 30 “found thatthere were 250,773 multiple registrants and 29,304 underage applicants that tried to have themselves listed in the 10-day general re-registration of voters in the region last July.”

The ARMM election, synchronized with the local and national polls on May 13, will be the seventh and last elections in the 23-year old ARMM. Following the October 15, 2012 signing of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) between the Philippine government (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), a 15-member Transition Commission has been formed to draft the Bangsamoro Basic Law in preparation for the “new autonomous political entity” called “Bangsamoro” that will replace the ARMM. The supposed three-year term of office of ARMM officials from 2013 will be cut short as soon as the Basic Law shall have been passed

by Congress and ratified by the people in the Bangsamoro and the ARMM is deemed abolished, according to the FAB. The ARMM’s functions will then be taken over by the Bangsamoro Transition Authority until the first set of Bangsamoro officials shall have been elected in May 2016 and sworn into office by noon of June 30, 2016. (Carolyn O. Arguillas/MindaNews)

thurSDAY | APRIL 4, 2013

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10 Survivors... from page 1

in the next three years or “as long as I’m here.”

Duterte is running unopposed for the mayoralty post in the May 13, 2013 elections. He previously served as mayor for 19 years.

So far, the total amount extended for the educational assistance of the survivors and the dependents of the victims amounted to almost P4 million, he said, citing data from the City Social Services and Development Office.

Eighteen of the beneficiaries had since graduated and four others are completing secondary education, he continued.

Among the graduates were the five children of Nelia Tiongco, 47, who was tending her small store at the Sasa wharf gate when the bombing happened.

She was wounded in the abdomen.

In an interview, she cited that aside from the educational assistance for her children who are all married now, she also received a start-up capital to rebuild her store, now located across Sasa wharf.

She told reporters during the commemoration program that she is “okay now and has nothing to complain about.”

“I have totally accepted [what] happened to me,” said Emy Dosaran, 31, who had just arrived at the wharf from Manila on board the Super Ferry vessel when the explosion happened.

She was on her way out of the gate when the bomb exploded, which she described as “a very quick incident.”

“I did not even notice it was a bomb,” Dosaran recalled.

The impact fractured her left leg that took two years to recover, she said, adding that she was able to gather the confidence to join the commemoration only three years ago.

Duterte said the city had three explosions in his 19 years as mayor, with the Sasa wharf bombing the third.

It followed the bombing at the old airport on March 4, 2003 that killed 20 persons and injured 146 others.

The bombing at the San Pedro Church on December 27, 1993 killed seven people and injured 151 others, 32 of them seriously wounded.

“This was a war of attrition. No specifics. But I think the government was able to consolidate the forces and stabilize the situation,” Duterte said.

He branded the bomb attacks as “purely terrorism.”

In 2010, Toto Akman, one of the five suspects in the Sasa wharf bombing, as convicted and sentenced to lifetime imprisonment.

The five suspects, including Akman, were reportedly acquitted in the old airport bombing incident.

(Lorie Ann A. Cascaro/ MindaNews)

thurSDAY | APRIL 4, 2013

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Powers...

This year, Napocor imposed another 30 percent from page 1 cut to the area’s power sup“We’ve been urging (the plies or specifically from government) for how many 72 MW to 52 MW. (Allen years already to put a stop V. Estabillo/MindaNews) to these brownouts,” she stressed.

Bagonoc said the con- from page 1 the hospital here by the tinuing long brownouts have severely affected the police, Nojapa told reportoperations of local busi- ers that his captors did not nesses as well as government harm him in any way. “*Kay gipasaka naman and private offices.

“It is pestering not only gyud sa taas, napamatudthe lives of businessmen an na wala koy sala* (It but of the ordinary itizens was proven that I did not commit any crime by their as well,” she said.

Bagonoc originally in- higher ups),” he said.

In a press statement, troduced the resolution the NDF Southern Minduring its regular session last week but the council danao said that after an decided to defer its action investigation by the NPA, on the matter due to the “no sufficient evidence was scheduled regional power established to warrant his forum here last March 25 (Nojapa’s) prosecution for that was joined by Energy serious crimes committed Secretary Carlos Jericho against the Filipino people and the revolutionary movePetilla.

The councilor, who ment.”

Senior Supt. Aaron Aquiheads the council’s majority bloc, also authored a no, Police Regional Office pending resolution request- 11 chief for directorial staff ing the City Disaster Risk and former ComVal provinReduction and Management cial police director, said in Council to look into the an interview while waiting possibility of declaring a for Nojapa’s arrival that the state of calamity in the city latter would undergo medidue to the negative impact cal and physical exams and of the long brownouts to the tactical interrogation.

Duterte said in an interlocal economy and human view after he turned over health.

The local business sector Nojapa to the police that earlier joined calls for the his role in the release was President to use his emer- only as a “delivery boy of gency powers to resolve the policemen and soldiers held power crisis in Mindanao. captives by the NPA.” He also fetched two In support of the move, administration lawmakers other NPA prisoners of proposed for the granting war (POW)—Senior Poby Congress of the neces- lice Officer 1 Ruel Pasion sary emergency powers to and the Army Private First the President to address the Class Jezreel Culango—last power situation in Mind- February 21 in Laak town, also in ComVal. anao more swiftly.

Duterte cited that his Malacañang said last week it is already looking act “was a minor role as a into the proposal but noted simple deed for his fellowthat the Department of En- men that had nothing to do ergy and other stakeholders with the war.”

“Wala naman tay main the island were already working on possible solu- himo, naa na man na (We can’t do anything about it. tions to the problem.

Dist r ibut ion ut ility That’s already there). But, South Cotabato II Electric of course, everybody must Cooperative (Socoteco II) remember, including the is presently implementing Communist Party [of the daily rotating brownouts Philippines], the NPA and lasting seven hours for each the NDF that I am with the of its two feeder grouping, government,” he added.

He said he would also be or a total of 14 hours due willing to “make errands for to the power shortage.

Socoteco II, which has the police to save lives, make a daily average peak power everybody happy” if the demand of 112 MW, serves police would ask him too.

Duterte said picking up this city, the entire Sarangani province and the munici- the hostage using a helicoppalities of Tupi and Polo- ter costs P100,000, and that molok in South Cotabato. “he billed both the NPA In the last two weeks, and the police equally for Napocor’s power allocation the expenses.” (Lorie Ann to the area only ranged from Cascaro/MindaNews) 40 to 49 MW, resulting to a deficit of between 33 to from page 1 40 MW. (Malmar) irrigation dam Aboitiz-owned Therma Marine Inc. (TMI) augments in Carmen town.

“Malmar is being studied the area’s power supplies by 30 MW based on a power now. Since we have that big sales agreement that it ear- dam for irrigation, we might lier signed with the electric as well maximize the water [for a hydropower plant],” cooperative.

Socoteco II forged the she said.

Mendoza said they are sales deal with TMI in 2011 after Napocor slashed the also considering using soarea’s power allocation to lar energy to augment the the area by 30 percent or dwindling power supply in from 104 MW to 72 MW the province.

In fact, Korean investors in 2012.

NPA...

Investors...

have already expressed their interests in putting up a solar-powered plant in the province, she disclosed.

Mendoza said a team from the Provincial Planning and Development Office has been tasked to visit the existing project of the Koreans in Dapitan City and in Tanay, Rizal.

The governor admitted that developing solar power is expensive, ”but in the long run we can save so much.”

She appealed to her constituents to be patient, saying: “Even if you have this study, it doesn’t mean that you will have available power tomorrow. It takes years. But what is important is that we have started.”

The governor also explained that even if she will have the commitment of the investors, it is important that a comprehensive data should be made available first.

Besides hydro and solar as potential energy sources, Mendoza said that they are also considering biomass as an alternative source of energy. The province has a lot of rice mills, she said, noting their wastes can produce biomass energy.

For the development of potential alternative energy sources, Mendoza said they have already forwarded the raw data to prospective investors for review. “Because we don’t have the expertise to analyze as well as the technology. Then we will know what’s the timeline, how much will it cost, how many years to build, the capitalization. These are the things that will follow.”

Mendoza said they are not considering the construction of a coal-fired power plant in the province as an option to address the area’s power problem. “We are for clean energy,” she noted. *Immediate option* While studies are still underway, Mendoza said the provincial government has already signified its interest last month to lease a generator set as an immediate option to ease the outage in the area.

Aside from the generator set, she also bared that the provincial government supports the case filed by Kidapawan City Vice Mayor Joseph Evangelista against the Department of Energy and power executives for not acting on calls to allocate 25 percent of the output of the geothermal power plant to this city and to the province.

Mendoza said the 25 percent allocation to the host community, which is the province, “should not be debated” since it is under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act. * * The civil case, which was filed before the Regional Trial Court Branch 23 here in April 2012, is to compel the DOE, National Power Corporation and the Lopezowned Energy Development Corporation to supply the city with 25 percent of the

electricity produced by the Under the scheme, which geothermal plant in this city. will be coursed through (Keith Bacongco / Mind- NEA, Energy Secretary aNews) Carlos Jericho Petilla said electric cooperatives will be given a grace period of from page 1 two years wherein they will Corporation (Napocor) only be required to pay for expires in August. the loan’s interest.

Engr. Santiago Tudio, After two years, he said Socoteco I general manager, the cooperatives will have said they are set to negoti- an option to pay for the ate with the Department loan principal and interest of Energy (DoE) and the or completely waive any National Electrification Ad- further payment by returnministration (NEA) for a ing the generator sets to loan arrangement that will NEA. (Allen V. Estabillo/ allow the cooperative to MindaNews) purchase the generator set.

“We had long been planning to acquire a modular from page 1 chairman Hadjihad Kadil generator set. Now here’s an opportunity for us to acquire was wounded during the one with the government’s incident but now in stable help so we’ll do it,” he told condition.

He said, Sulu authorities MindaNews yesterday.

Tudio said they decided are still investigating to to acquire a modular genera- one of the armed suspects tor set to counter the impact known by his alias ‘Aziz’ of the expected reduction by who is allegedly one of the 10 MW of the area’s power relatives of the said mayor.

Hassan accuses the local allocation from the Napocor chief executive of protecting

by August.

Socoteco I serves Koro- the suspects and inaction nadal City, eight munici- of the case instead.

Town vice mayor Limtapalities in South Cotabato and Lutayan town in Sultan jal Hassan, who is nephew of the village chairman was Kudarat.

The electric cooperative’s immediately take action to daily power allocation from resolve the case by ordering the Napocor reaches around the suspects to submit to 27 MW or 7 MW short of the authorities.

It can be recalled that its 34 MW contract.

But Socoteco I’s daily on March 19, this year peak demand only reaches Hassan together with his around 32 MW, making its children were leaving from Mangkalay village and aldeficit at just 5 MW. Tudio said the electric legedly strafed by unknown cooperative has a stand- armed men upon reaching by supply of 4 MW from Tingkangan village. with its power sales deal with Ric Clet Aboitiz-owned Therma Marine Inc. “Right now, our daily from page 6 rotating brownouts only of possible repeat of such last about an hour but it incidents saying, “Hinaut pa unta… might reach seven hours Ang Davao ok na. Ok na. Kung magpabilin ang mga sabot-sabot

by August,” he said. nga istorya ug mo-hold na…ayaw Napocor has started to lang ang Davao…(I hope not… reduce its power allocation Davao is okay now. If talks would to electric cooperatives in hold… just spare Davao).”

He said he had talked with MNLF Mindanao last year due to Chair Nur Misuari, and “everyone.” the declining generation “Mao ning military moingon capacity of its hydroelectric ngano ni si Mayor… Ayaw mog plants in Bukidnon and samok samok nako, total.. maayo lang mo sa bala ug pusil, di ninyo Lanao del Norte. mag-underground og istorya.

Several areas in Mind- kayang Dili ninyo na trabaho, pasagdi lang anao, including this city, ko (That’s why the military would have been experiencing ask why I am doing it, I’d tell them, prolonged rotating brown- don’t fuss with me. After all, you’re outs lasting as high as seven only good with bullets and guns, cannot deal with underground hours since January due to you talks. That’s not your job, just let the worsening power short- me be),” he said. age in the island’s power Asked by reporters later after his speech if justice has been grid.

The shortage was mainly served the victims of the Sasa bombing, Duterte replied, blamed on the declining wharf “This is a war of attrition, used to water inflow at the hydro- be a war of attrition, so no specifics electric plants due to lack but I think government was able to of rains since last month consolidate the forces and stabilized and the ongoing rehabilita- the situation.”

He said it was “purely terrorism” tion of several power plant and so there are no particulars in complexes. terms of identity of suspects, to Based on the power situ- speak of.

One Toto Akman a suspect in ation outlook released by the blast has been sentenced to National Grid Corp. of the the reclusion perpetua or life sentence Philippines for Wednesday, in 2010 by a Regional Trial Court Mindanao grid’s system here for direct participation in the capacity is presently at 972 bombing.

The RTC 12 under Presiding MW or 118 MW short of Judge Pelagio Paguican ordered the area’s system peak of Akman to pay the casualties a total 1147 MW. 4.125 million.

As alternative solution Akman, along with five others, to the problem, the DoE was also reportedly suspected of has offered a loan scheme being involved in the March 4 Davao Bombing but was acquitted that will allow electric co- Airport

by Judge Paguican over failure of operatives in Mindanao the prosecution to present enough acquire their own modular evidence to prove guilt. (Cheryll D. Fiel, davaotoday.com) generator sets.

Diesel...

Sulu...

Mayor...

11

thurSDAY | APRIL 4, 2013

Editorial. : mindanaodailynews@gmail.com Advertising : mindanaodaily.ads@gmail.com

Pot...

Smuggling...

condition of his constituents, Amante thought of other things, other projects that have nothing to do with the uplifting of the economic lot of the Butuanons.

This failure is now very glaring in the people’s desire to have him replaced by Aquino.

I just hope Aquino will not tread the same path that Amante foolishly tread that only made him irrelevant to the Butuanons.

--(Reactions at jelbacon@ yahoo.com or at jelbaconii@ gmail.com)

nothing is going to come out from any such investigation anyway. Perhaps, the least Filipinos can do is to pray for our country and for those who are involved in the smuggling of gasoline, and ask God to show His justice right away!

-oooSMUGGLING HAS BECOME A WAY OF LIFE: Then, gasoline smuggling is not the only smuggling that is crippling the economy of this country. We have also heard of rice smuggling, vegetable smuggling, spices smuggling, luxury

from page 7

from page 6

How to play the game?

Fill in completely every rows, columns and diagonals of each puzzle without repitition of the same digit.

colors of crayola

golden rod gray magenta maroon melon olive green

“SMUGGLING LIBERALIZED IN RP”: From broadcaster Melo Acuna, in a recent Facebook post: “Over at EDSA Plaza Hotel (in Mandaluyong City) over cups of coffee, I heard something about petrol smuggling. `During the previous administration, oil smuggling was the province of one man,’ said someone.

His friend replied: `Today, it has been liberalized.’ A third asked, `Where’s ‘Daang Matuwid’?’ A lady friend of the three simply smiled!”

-oooWHO HELPED SOUTH KOREAN ESCAPE? What seems to be ignored in the on-going investigations on

SUDOKU

CIRCLE A WORD apricot burnt sienna brick red carnation pink cerise cyan denim

cars smuggling, illegal drugs smuggling, jewelry smuggling, meat smuggling, and smuggling of almost every good or product from countries like China and Taiwan.

Indeed, big-time smuggling has become a way of life here. But, why are these happening? Are the Bureau of Customs and the Department of Finance that helpless in fighting this malady? Why are they helpless? Are they not receiving the kind of support that the President of this country should be giving to them to terminate smuggling in any form, on any product, once and for all?

-ooo-

periwinkle shamrock silver spring green tan tumbleweed violet red

Roots... from page 7

Yesterday’s answer

imposed by the COMELEC namely: that a candidate for national post should have the capacity [read: millions] to campaign nationwide.

Under the present setup, there’s no way a worker or a farmer or a fisherman or an urban poor can win an electoral seat, nationally or even locally.

Let us therefore stop calling our elections a democratic process.

Knowing this, what is the alternative road that can make of our elections a truly democratic one? The answer: reverse the situation by reversing the process.

Let the top national officials of the grassroots organizations of the workers and farmers and other basic masses occupy and dominate the seats of the legislative body.

Instead of the individual candidates running under the traditional political parties occupying 80 – 90 percent of the seats in the national legislative body, let it be the other way around: the official leaders of the different sectoral organizations of the masses hold 80-90 percent of the national legislative seats.

No big sums of money will be involved here. The

CROSSWORD puzzle

across

1. Private teacher 5. Scorch

8. Units

9. Simpleton

11. _Tin Tin

12. Triumph

14. Therefore

15. Cipher

16. Quickened gallop 17. Beginning

19. Little one (suffix) 20. Quarantine

22. Fasting period

24. operandi

27. Crescent

28. Uniform

30. Preposition

31. Russian government 33. Beak

34. Showy flower

35. Rank and_

36. TV host Pimentel

37. Document DOWN 1. Human trunk 2. Confederation 3. Five and five 4. Osmium symbol 5. Nata de_ 6. Peppery 7. Terminated prematurely 9. Tax agency (abbr.)

10. Unit of force 12. Interdiction 13. Groove 15. Gusto 18. Wholehearted 19. British school 21. Prayer ending 22. Body of water 23. Do wrong 25. Useful 26. Not drunk 28. Otherwise 29. Compete

the escape of a South Korean fugitive, at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport yet, is the fact that the Korean could not have solicited the help of any official or employee of the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation or even of the Department of Transportation and Communications by himself. There had to be someone working for him.

Who was this? My take is that, it was this guy, whoever he was, who masterminded and facilitated the escape.

-oooREACTIONS? Please call me at 0917 984 24 68, 0918 574 0193, 0922 833 43 96.

Email: batasmauricio@yahoo.com, mmauriciojr111@ gmail.com

32. Cleaning implement 33. Bite 35. Musical tone

national officers/leaders of the different organizations of the basic masses will automatically be allotted seats in proportion to the size of their respective constituencies. They are the true representatives of the mass of members who elected them as their officers and leaders.

And so, they don’t need to be subjected again to elections that require big outlay of money for campaigns.

The same procedure shall be followed in the legislative councils of provinces and municipalities. And even in the barangay levels.

Ambitious politicians, or individual persons from the landlord and capitalist classes who desire to be part of the legislative body shall be elected only by the unorganized sections of the population as their constituencies. They shall constitute a small minority in the national legislature — a small slice of the political pie.

The members of the National Legislature will be responsible in electing the President and Vice-President or Premier and Vice-Premier, as the case may be, in the executive branch of government.

Governors and mayors can only come from candidates of the organized sectors of the majority of the masses. Not from any ambitious persons and individuals who do not belong to any people’s organization.

By these broad participatory processes that involve the grassroots–the grassroots who have long been denied the right to manifest their true will and interests– the fundamental principles rooted in a democracy are put into meaningful practice.

A genuine democracy shall have been installed –one that is truly a government of the people, by the people and for the people.

Sadly, what we have in our present dispensation is a government of the elite, by the elite and for the elite.

This is anathema to the ideals of a true democracy.

--Don J. Pagusara is a native of Mindanao, a multiawarded author and a Palanca-awardee.

J.P. RIZAL - CRUZ TAAL STS., (NEAR SHANGHAI BAKERY) DIVISORIA, CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY

SUPERTRES II UNLEASHED: THE WINNING GUIDE LET’S PLAY LOTTO. SUPPORT PHILIPPINE CHARITY SWEEPSTAKES OFFICE!

A N A LY S I S AHAK, doble man ang resulta sa alas 11 ug alas 4 nga mga draw. Ang 9 ug 2 maoy atong maayo nga pasakay para karong adlawa. Balos na pud ‘ta!

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3 0 6 9 2

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PAIRING UNLEASHED TAKE 2

12 13 15 12 23

28 25 35 35 45

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66 69 78 70 80

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TAKE 1

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YESTERDAY’S RESULT 11am: 331

PAIRING UNLEASHED TAKE 2

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TAKE 2

66 69 78 70 80

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TAKE 1

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1 2 3 4 5

YESTERDAY’S RESULT 4pm: 661

PAIRING UNLEASHED TAKE 2

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24 25 34 35 45

TAKE 2

68 69 78 70 80

68 60 79 89 90

TAKE 1

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6 7 8 9 0

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12

ThurSday | APRIL 4, 2013

Editorial. : mindanaodailynews@gmail.com Advertising : mindanaodaily.ads@gmail.com

Last year, we honored Mindanao’s homegrown businesses...

This year, let the Investors from outside the island who helped propel Mindanao’s economy for decades be recognized...thus,

Municipal casual workers threaten beneficiaries of 4Ps to vote for the mayor

By CHRIS V. PANGANIBAN, Editor-at-large

present

RATIONALE OF THE PROJECT - This is the 2nd Mindanao Business Leaders Awards, in a different category from the first one. The 1st Mindanao Business Leaders Awards was undertaken last year to give due recognition to the achievements of various Mindanao business leaders and entrepreneurs in various categories of homegrown corporate and individual business leadership achievements.

- This year’s search is aimed at giving honor and recognition of excellent business leaders in the investors’s category.

- BusinessWeek Mindanao as a forerunner of information on economic leadership and entrepreneurial achievements of non-Mindanaoan corporations and businessmen, deems it a part of its social responsibility to trumpet the achievements of these pillars of Mindanao’s economy, for others to emulate and thus propel an awareness for the business potential that Mindanao offers in every economic and business investment plan, whether small or great.

-We are helping Mindanao achieve sustainable development of its economy through these humble efforts.

MISSION & VISION OF THE AWARDS - The holding of BWM Awards annually serves as catalyst to the ongoing efforts of business leaders and entrepreneurs who seek greater heights and strive for success in the noble mission of propelling Mindanao and its people towards full economic growth and sustainable development.

MECHANICS OF THE SEARCH: Duration of the Search Awards Night

: :

January 15, 2013 to May 15, 2013 June 1, 2013

Entry Requirements: 1. Individual and Company/Establishment nominations shall be accompanied with Nomination Forms available on-line at the Sponsors Website, offices of sponsors, or in the printed page of Businessweek Mindanao and Mindanao Daily issues or may be mailed, if requested, by the Awards Secretariat 2. Nominees or candidates in various categories shall be nominated by BusinessWeek Mindanao and Mindanao Daily Bureaus; individuals, organization or groups not employed by or connected to any of the nominated person or firm .

3. Nominations shall be accompanied by the ff documents which can be mailed, or emailed to the awards secretariat - MINDANAO BUSINESS LEADERS AWARDS 2013 Secretariat, Tanleh Bldg., Abellanosa St., Cagayan de Oro City,not later than May 15, 2013.

4. Brief Resume and History of the Nominee (Individual or Firm) - Photos (at least 3) ; Nomination Form ; Documentary evidence such as certificates, awards or citations

For INQUIRIES CONTACT:

(088)856-3344, (08822)74-53-80 or 09274795196 (Allan Mediante) businessweekmindanao@gmail.com MEDIA PARTNERS:

SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur— Complaints were raised against a municipal casual worker here who was reported to have harassed beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) that they will lose their privileges if they will not vote for Mayor Jenny de Asis in the coming elections.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development has earlier warned local politicians not to take advantage of the program by threatening beneficiaries to support their candidacies if they want to continue the monthly financial benefits.

A concerned citizen reported to the local media yesterday that a certain Mrs. Bando, a casual worker of the municipal government, went to their remote village in Tagapua to threaten 4Ps beneficiaries that their fund support would be cut off if they will not vote for the incumbent mayor.

“She went to my neighbour on Tuesday night to harass them of losing their benefits if they would not vote for Mayor Jenny,” the source , who asked for anonymity, disclosed in a mobile phone interview.

Mindanao Daily News tried to get Mayor de Asis’ reactions through several text messages at the mayor’s office but to no avail.

This is not the first time that similar activities as the local Smile 92.7 FM reported on February that a casual employees also harassed 4Ps beneficiaries that they will be delisted from the

program if they will not vote for de Asis.

The station also reported that the barangay captain of San Isidro also threatened 4Ps beneficiaries when he inserted to speak during a gathering among them also last February.

The 4P is a human development program of the national government, a social protection strategy that invest in health and education of poor children aged 0-14 years old.

Through the Conditional Cash Transfer that will be deposited through ATM cards, the 4Ps beneficiaries would receive more than P1,000 pesos a month.

“Walang karapatan ang kahit sino na mag-alis ng

pangalan. Ang may karapatan lang ay ang DSWD regional office and national office,” said DSWD Secretary Jinky Soliman during the launch ug “Bawal ang Epal DIto” Campaign last January.

The $Ps has been an enticing source of rich votes for local officials seeking reelection especially in Agusan del Sur where it has the biggest number of beneficiaries in Caraga region.

According to a report by the Philippine Information Agency, 4Ps have practically covered all 317 barangays in Agusan del Sur which has a total population of 46,191, representing 32 percent of the total 143,266 4Ps beneficiaries in Caraga region.

The facilitators of the training: (Seated from left) Dr. Lee, Cholbang, Dr. Chang Hyun You, Dr. Alma L. Cosadio, Mushroom Project Coordinator of MOSCAT and Prof. Casimero Icalina (standing at the extreme rear behind Dr. Chang)

Farmers undergo mushroom growing

THE Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA)- through the Center for Overseas Agriculture and International Development (COAID), DA-RFU 10 through the Claveria Experiment Station (DACES) and the Misamis Oriental State College of Agriculture and Technology (MOSCAT) of Claveria,

Misamis Oriental through the Institute of Agriculture, will be conducting a series of hands-on training on mushroom production on April 5 & 19, May 3 & 17, June 7 & 21 and July 5 and 19, 2013 to be held at MOSCAT Mushroom Laboratory.

The training includes an actual practice on making the growing bag for mushroom and producing commercial oyster mushroom. This activity is in support to the project on Technology Transfer for Microbial/ Organic Fertilizer and Mushroom Cultivation in Claveria, Misamis Oriental which is funded by KOICA-COAID. Dr. Chang, Hyun-You, an expert on Mushroom Technology from Korea National College of Agriculture and Fisheries, South Korea and also the KOICA project team leader on Mushroom Technology Transfer is the resource speaker. Participants to the training are the farmer benificiaries from barangays Luna and Lanise in Claveria, Misamis Oriental who are interested on mushroom cultivation.

KOICA, the funding agency, is a government organization in Korea under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, engaged in international development cooperation by providing material and physical aid to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development. The COAID, the implementing agency and a subsidiary institution of Chungbuk National University in Korea, is implementing programs and projects in the developing countries like the Philippines, that focused on major program areas on rural development, environment and climate change.